248 bulletin of the natural history society. 



30. — Proposals for a Nomenclature of unnamed New Brunswick 

 Hills and Mountains. 



(Read December 5th, 1899). 



It is a fact that the great majority of New Brunswick hills and 

 mountains, including some of the very finest, are to-day quite name" 

 less. In the settled districts, it is true, they are mostly named, but 

 most of New Brunswick is unsettled. This seems the more remark- 

 able when it is recalled that practically all of our streams and lakes, 

 even to small brooks and ponds, and in the wildest parts of the 

 province, are named. But for this the reason is plain. Our water- 

 courses have a relation to our interests through their use for lumber, 

 ing, hunting and fishing ; hence they must often be spoken of, and 

 names for them arise. But our mountains only exceptionally affect our 

 interests in these or other ways, hence are rarely spoken of, and names 

 do not arise for them. Such is the condition at present, but it 

 will not always be so. As the province becomes settled, as hunters 

 and tourists visit it more, as a provincial literature arises, as forestry 

 becomes systematized, as maps become more accurate and detailed, as 

 scientific explorations become more extended and minute, a need for 

 names for our mountains will be felt, and they will gradually come 

 into use. Unless, however, some broad and consistent plan for the 

 giving of such names be adopted, those which will arise will be often 

 of the most trivial, inappropriate and inconvenient sort. One has 

 only to instance the very numerous and confusing Bald Mountains.* 

 Is it not possible to inaugurate some plan which will provide for our 

 mountains a convenient, appropriate and pleasing nomenclature 1 

 Certainly such a matter is eminently one for consideration by this 

 Society. 



If now, we pass to details, three questions arise : first, what kind 

 of names should be given ; second, what shall determine the adoption 

 of proposed names; third, how may they be introduced into general 

 circulation 1 We may most conveniently consider these questions in 

 reverse order. 



How may names, deliberately given, be introduced into general 

 circulation 1 Guides, lumbermen, and most others who are much in 



♦Attention was first called to incongruities and inconveniences in our place-nomen- 

 clature by Professor Bailey (Mines and Minerals of N. B., 1864, pp. 8, 9). 



